IAWN Consultation of African Anglican Women, October 2005
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INTERNATIONAL ANGLICAN WOMEN’S NETWORK (IAWN) CONSULTATION OF AFRICAN ANGLICAN WOMEN BELINDA BEACH RESORT 24- 28 OCTOBER 2005 DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA REPORT Introduction The Consultation Meeting of the African Anglican Women was held at the Belinda Ocean Resort, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania from the 24th to 28th October 2005. Entitled “Empowering African Anglican Women” its main objective was to re-consider its involvement in issues relating to self-empowerment and the achievement of Beijing Platform for Action (BPfA) and Milliennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Africa. The major themes for the consultation were as follows in accordance with the Programme (Appendix 1) • ACC - structure, mission, • IAWN – (history, mission, objectives) • ACC 13 Resolutions – its impact on women • Anglican Church’s response to BPfA & MDGs (country reports presentation – experience/views/challenges etc • Women – Bridging the Gap in the Anglican Communion • Call to Leadership – empowerment a) Personal b) Political c) Economic • Make Poverty History • Methods of monitoring International instruments ratified by governments (BPfA & MDGs) • Women Involvement in Peace building and Reconciliation • Church Involvement in HIV/AIDS • 50th UNCSW Meeting – continuity of representation/delegates of all provinces) Participation All the 12 provinces of Africa sent in representatives to the Consultation. There were 16 participants. There were 5 participants from Tanzania and one from each province. The Anglican Observer to the United Nations Archdeacon, Taimalelagi Fagamalama Tuatagaloa- Matalavea was the moderator for the sessions and keynote speaker. Also present at this meeting were the Director of Women’s Ministries, of the Episcopal Church in the USA, Revd. Magaret Rose, Janette O’Niell and Janis Rosheuvel of the Episcopal Relief and Development, and Yvonne O’Neal, representative of the Rt. Revd. Bishop Catherine Roskam. There were also two overseas missionaries in Tanzania who attended the consultation. (list of participants - Appendix 2) DAY ONE – OFFICIAL OPENING MONDAY 24TH OCTOBER 2005 The Official Opening took place on 24th October 2005 at 4.30 p.m. with a Holy Eucharist service led by Revd John Simalenga and Revd. Cecilia Kwikima. A local youth choir from St. Nicholas Church animated the service joyfully. The Rt. Revd. Dr. Philip Baji, the Dean of the Province of the Church of Tanzania, addressed the ladies. He brought greetings on behalf of the Most Revd Donald Matelemela, the archbishop of the Province of the Church of Tanzania who was attending the primates meeting in Cairo. 1 Bishop Baji noted that, the conference was being done at the right time since there still exists a wide gap between the goals enunciated in the constitutions, legislation, policy, plan and programs and related mechanisms on the one hand and the situational reality of the status of women in many African countries on the other. He also stated that the Church should not remain silent but respond to the gospel imperatives of justice for all. He further acknowledged that women if empowered can make a difference in the lives of those in need and bring the change in Africa and the world at large. (see Appendix 3). DAY TWO PROCEEDINGS TUESDAY 25TH OCTOBER 2005 1. Morning Prayers - Revd Joyce Kariuki (Province of Kenya) Revd Joyce Kariuki led the morning devotion based on the book of Nehemiah 4: 1-16 titled the “opposition to the rebuilding”. The Reverend stated we need to pray and take the burden of Africa to God. Prayer works but not on its own. Action is required and it must be done strategically. She further added that we must work as a team and gather support but this process meets with enormous challenges. Great will-power should be our goal. She concluded that we must have a common vision, a common strategy and common implementation and then God will bless his work for ability comes from the Lord. 2. Keynote Address - Archdeacon Taimalelagi Fagamalama Tuatagaloa-Matalavea, The Anglican Observer at the United Nations The Anglican Observer at the United Nations, Archdeacon Taimalelagi Fagamalama Tuatagaloa-Matalavea, declared open the Consultation of African Anglican women held at Belinda Beach Resort, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania between the 24th and 28th October 2005. (See Appendix 4) Apart from being the main motivating force behind the Consultation, Archdeacon Tai brought to bear on the gathering, her expertise in the conduct of meetings in international fora. Goodwill messages were received through her from: ● The President of the Anglican Communion, The Most Revd Dr Rowan Williams ● Canon Kenneth Kearon, the Secretary General of the Anglican Consultative Council ● President of the United Nations General Assembly, His Excellency Jan Elliason ● Ms. Carolyn Hamnan. Executive Director of the UN Division for the Advancement of Women Jolly Babirukamu, the visioner of the Consultation as well as Priscilla Julie, the Regional Link Women for Africa for IAWN, were appreciated. The Design Team, which is inclusive of Assah Mgonja and Joyce Ngoda, was also recognized. The main thrust of The Observer’s address to the women is to the effect that in concert with all women in development, African Anglican women should be in the forefront of 2 the campaign and implementation of the MDGs and BPfA and to monitor as well as ensure their compliance in their Provinces. The objectives will be realized when the women are relevant, radical and responsive 3. (a) ACC – (structure & composition) - Mrs Jolly Babirukamu Before she started the presentation, Mrs. Babirukamu read out a letter from the International Coordinator, Alice Medcof. She sends greetings to all the ladies and regrets that she could not make it to the meeting. She reminded the ladies that as African Anglican women we must take the opportunity of time and bring about the required change in Africa. We must also make use of our tools – the UN instruments – namely the BPfA & MDGs to effect change. (see appendix 5) Jolly explained that the Anglican Communion is a body of all Anglican Provinces. There are 4 instruments of Unity. a) Archbishop of Canterbury – head of the community b) The Lambeth Conference –held every 10 years c) The Primates Meeting – Archbishops Meeting d) Anglican Consultative Council. - Bishops, clergies & lay persons (the only organ where women are represented but very few. It has been recommended that when a Province nominates its candidates to the ACC preference should be given to women if there is only one candidate being nominated as a laity. The structure of the ACC from bottom to top is as follows: - Parish Church Council, Diocesan Synod, Provincial Synod then Anglican Consultative Council. ACC Standing Committee - consist of 9 members, 4 of which are women. These members were elected from Anglican Consultative Council. There are few ACC Networks & Commissions, which have to find their own funds and they all have a Coordinator. The IAWN falls under this umbrella. 3 (b) International Anglican Women’s Network (IAWN) – history, mission, objective – by Revd Margaret Rose Revd Margaret Rose gave a short history of IAWN and how it is run. She further explained the difficulties that not all the ladies possess a computer and as the IAWN has been communicating on emails it has not been easy. That it is not easy without a desk for women. Very few provinces have a women’s desk. She also clarified that the IAWN includes all women inside and outside the Mothers’ Union that is it is not necessary for them to be MU members but ANGLICAN WOMEN. After Revd. Rose’s presentation the following issues were raised: a) Find ways to bring IAWN representatives together through regional meetings, UNCSW or at other relevant fora. 3 b) Where possible, provincial links to IAWN should also be the delegates to UNCSW c) The e-mail list of IAWN should be expanded so that those who want to know what is happening really can get to be informed d) Technology – Find ways to communicate through email as well as other means – perhaps through Provincial Offices e) Find ways to facilitate communication and continuity among the women for long term representation at meetings f) Insist that Church meeting agendas have women’s work on them and reporting on women’s gatherings should go beyond women’s groups. g) Representatives should report to all women – not just to their particular groups and especially not just to their leadership. h) The need to restructure the Network and propose means of funding it i) Prepare a job description of IAWN International Coordinator. 4. ACC 13 RESOLUTIONS - Impact on women -Mrs. Joyce Ngoda / Mrs Phillipa Amable The African Anglican women in Dar es Salaam also discussed the ACC 13 resolutions and how they related to the concerns of women. The ACC Resolution is an Instrument of the Anglican Communion. There are 54 resolutions, of which a large number talk about women. Women are not well represented in ACC, for the Archbishop of Canterbury is a male, the Primates are all male and the Lambeth is dominated by Bishops who are all men. The only organ that has women is the ACC and here also only 23% are women. Therefore the need to pursue all the resolutions and see how much has been decided on our behalf. Participants were then divided into three groups to discuss the 55 Resolutions of ACC – 13 (see appendix 6) Many of the resolutions that emerged were as a result of this discussion. GROUP REPORTS GROUP ONE R1 - We give thanks for the new Archbishop of York. We recognise that the position is the second highest position in the Church of England, that he is the first Black Archbishop and that he is from our continent –Uganda. 2 - We fully support the “Instruments of Unity” and we urge that this instrument will further assist to promote women’s advocacy and concerns.